Police: Man shot by officers was department informant

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»Play VideoPolice and emergency vehicles are seen in the overnight hours Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, in the aftermath of a police gun battle with two suspects at the Four Points Sheraton hotel on California Avenue in Bakersfield, Calif.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Police Chief Greg Williamson released new information Tuesday on a shootout that left two men dead in September. One officer was also hurt in that shooting.

Williamson said one of the suspects was actually a police informant.

The two men killed were Justin Harger and Jorge Ramirez.

“Mr. Ramirez was working as an informant,” said Williamson. “He was looking to get some consideration on a case for trafficking narcotics.”

According to Williamson, this was the second case Ramirez had helped police with, but the first case didn’t lead to any arrests.

Williamson said Ramirez didn’t give officers the information they needed the night of the shooting. Ramirez didn’t tell the officers who was driving, he didn’t tell officers Harger was armed, and he didn’t tell officers Harger was in disguise. The bald man was wearing a wig, the chief said.

“I don't know that we had all the info we would with a reliable informant,” said Williamson.

The police investigation is still underway to determine if the shooting was justified.

Two of the five officers decided to withhold statements in the criminal investigation.

“They have the right to give a statement, or the right to remain silent,” said Williamson. "This case we've had a couple officers decide to not give statements, which has caused us to prolong this investigation.”

Meanwhile, with and informant dead, Williamson is optimistic this incident won’t stop people from providing information for the police.

“I think the people that do it out of the goodness of their hearts are always going to come forward and provide info to the police as good citizens,” the chief said.